FG Panel Confirms: bobrisky didn’t sleep outside prison, served jail term

An investigative panel commissioned by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed that the well-known crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, fully served his jail term. On September 30, Tunji-Ojo had established this panel, headed by Magdalena Ajani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, to investigate claims of corruption and other violations within the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The panel’s findings, presented on Monday by Uju Agomoh, the Executive Director of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, revealed no evidence to support claims that Bobrisky spent time outside the prison during his incarceration. Bobrisky, sentenced to six months in prison on April 12, 2024, for abusing the naira, was released on August 5, 2024, after completing his sentence with the usual remission.

However, controversy surfaced when Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, shared an audio recording in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed to have paid N15 million to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop a money laundering charge. Bobrisky also claimed in the audio that a “godfather” and Nigerian Correctional Service officials arranged for him to serve his sentence in a private apartment instead of in prison.

In contrast, Agomoh reported that Bobrisky was transferred between several custodial centers, including the Kuje Custodial Centre and the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kirikiri-Apapa, Lagos, before being moved to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre. During his time in custody, Bobrisky was afforded several privileges, including a furnished single cell, access to a humidifier, frequent visits from family and friends, and self-feeding.

The panel also noted that transferring Bobrisky, a first-time offender, to a maximum-security facility was a violation of Section 164A and Section 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019. Furthermore, Bobrisky’s special treatment in prison, such as the use of a refrigerator, television, and the possible use of his phone, raised questions about whether these privileges were granted due to financial incentives or corruption.

The panel recommended that the Nigerian Correctional Service establish clear guidelines for handling such cases in the future to prevent unequal treatment based on inmates’ socio-economic status. They emphasized the need for transparency and fairness in the treatment of all prisoners, regardless of their background.